HERITAGE Provincial Heritage Authority of the Western Cape Private Bag X9067, , 8001 Tel: 021 483 9672 Fax: 021 483 9842 Provincial Heritage Site Nomination Form

This form precedes the submission of the ‘Nomination Document’ and is designed to assist with the grading of heritage resources in terms Section 3(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act, as part of the process of declaration as a Provincial Heritage Site (Section 27). Nominated heritage resources that are of special provincial significance will be graded as Grade 2 and considered for Provincial Heritage Site status.

Proposed Provincial Heritage Site:

RATELGAT, PORTIONS 1, 2 AND REMAINDER OF FARM LUIPERSKOP 211, VAN RHYNSDORP DISTRICT

Brief Statement of Significance: (A full statement of significance is required as an attachment)

Ratelgat, Farm Luiperskop 1697, Vanrhynsdorp District, has an inalienable link to the history of the Griqua nation and, by this association, is probably the most important site and strongest tangible symbol of this people who have, through their tenacity and never- say-die attitude, were the first frontiersmen, and resisted the forces of radical displacement, colonialism, apartheid and the many natural and other unnatural iniquities to maintain their identity and to forge their dynamic culture so that it survives until today.

It is the site where Paramount Chief AAS le Fleur I, reverently known as the Kneg, lived until a few years before his death. It was the place where he would go on spiritual retreat in order to communicate with God and receive his many visions and revelations that would result in the many prophesies that have become an integral part of Griqua folk- lore. Many of these prophesies have, indeed, been fulfilled.

These prophesies include:

• There will be a great (civil) war in South Africa, which will start in Cape Town in the Parliament Buildings, where people will start fighting with chairs and tables, but later progress to deadly weapons. Become a member of the (Griqua) nation and strive towards nationhood, love and Godliness, the key Griqua symbols, and nothing will happen to you. Others, who do not know these values, will be caught up in the fight.

• The building of the Sishen-Saldanha railway line was also prophesied by the Kneg, even as far as the location near Ratelgat and that of bridges and river crossings.

• A new railway station would be built in Cape Town. (1970s?)

• The Griqua will acquire the farm Jakkalskraal, outside Plettenberg Bay a few kilometers from Kranshoek. This farm would be the breadbasket of the Griqua nation in times of need. The farm was handed over to the Griqua by parastatal Lanok (Landelike Ontwikkelings Korporasie) in 2001.

• The Kneg also predicted that his grandson, AAS le Fleur II (born in 1923), will become a future Paramount Chief. The latter was inaugurated in 1951, ten years after the death of the Kneg. • The Griqua would be represented in Geneva at the United Nations. This was fulfilled in 1995, with the GNC still participating in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

• The government would attempt to move parliament to Pretoria, but would not succeed. This move was proposed during 1999-2000, after our second democratic election.

• God shall transform this desert into a paradise. Ratelgat shall become the property of the Griqua without a cent being paid. Tomorrow, Ratelgat shall supply Cape Town with water. Bishops and government leaders shall come to Ratelgat to plead with God to deliver them from the hardships to come. God will come to Ratelgat to speak to the Griqua nation and bless them.

It was the site at and from where he initiated countless self-help schemes for the economic upliftment of the Griqua nation, schemes which inspired the establishment of settlements and communities, most which still survive today. These include:

• The lime processing industry and establishment of Beeswater • Agricultural and stock farming initiatives • Gypsum mining

Proposed By: Ron Martin Heritage Consultancy Date Proposed: 19 November 2009

Contact Details: Cell: 078 533 9466

Name of Property:

RATELGAT, FARM 1697 (FORMERLY PORTIONS 1, 2 AND REMAINDER OF FARM LUIPERSKOP 211), VAN RHYNSDORP DISTRICT

Street Number and Street: Off N7, 35 km north of Van Rhynsdorp

District: Van Rhynsdorp Magisterial District, Matzikama Municipal Area

Cadastral Information

Erf/ Farm Number: Farm Luiperskop 1697 (formerly 211/1, /2 & /3)

Registration Division: Van Rhynsdorp

Map Reference: 3118 DA Type of Resource Place X Structure Archaeological Site X Palaeontological Site Geological Feature Grave X Do moveable objects relating to the site form part of the Nomination? Serial nomination (Is more than one site being nominated as part of a ‘Joint Nomination’) (For serial nominations, complete one form for each site, supply additional details about the information relating to the relation of the sites, and the management and phasing of proposed nomination be attached).

Sphere of Significance High Med Low International X National X Provincial X Regional X Local X Specialist group or community X

What other similar sites may be compared to the site? How does the site compare to these sites? • The House of A A S Le Fleur, Jakkalskraal • Maitland Town Hall • Grave of A A S Le Fleur • Griqua Monument and associated graves at Kranshoek • Identified sites at historic settlements of the Griqua, Kokstad, Mount Currie, Klaarwater, Griqua Town and Philipolis.

Owner: Griqua Ratelgat Development Trust (If state-owned; responsible department and official position of contact) Postal Address: P O Box 1048, Vredendal, 8160 Telephone: +27 (0)27 2135472 Fax: +27 (0)27 2135465 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Page: www.ratelgat.co.za

Contact Person: (If different from above. Please supply contact details) Jeanelize Snewe, Griqua Rategat Trust

X* Expanded statement of significance; (Refer specifically to significance criteria listed below) X* Motivation for declaration as a Provincial Heritage Site, including potential, threats and vulnerabilities; X* Short history of the place; X* Physical description of the heritage resource; X* Locality plan (map) and Site Plan; X* Photographs and plans;  ** List of moveable objects relating to site that are proposed as part of nomination, or for archaeological or palaeontological site ;list of repositories where these are housed; X** Bibliography of documentation relating to the heritage resource;  ** Statement of current protections and restrictions (e.g. previous national monument; register of immoveable property; conservation area; current zoning; servitudes);  ** List any heritage organizations consulted and their comments on the proposed nomination. X*** Site plan (with proposed site boundaries);  *** Conservation or management plans (send immediately if any exist);  *** Heritage Agreement (if required).

Type of Significance Indicate with a tick Comment where appropriate. Indicate sphere of significance: i.e. National, Provincial, Local and degree of significance: i.e. 1. Historical Value High, Medium or Low.

a. It is important in the community, or pattern of history For additional i. Importance in the evolution of cultural landscapes and settlement X information on all patterns catagories marked X, ii. Importance in exhibiting density, richness or diversity of cultural X see attached features illustrating the human occupation and evolution of the dossier……………… nation, Province, region or locality. ……………………… iii. Importance for association with events, developments or cultural X ……………………… phases that have had a significant role in the human occupation and ……………………… evolution of the nation, Province, region or community. ……………………… iv. Importance as an example for technical, creative, design or artistic ……………………… excellence, innovation or achievement in a particular period ……………………… ……………………… b. It has strong or special association with the life or work of a person, ……………………… group or organisation of importance in history ……………………… i. I ……………………… mportance for close associations with individuals, groups or X ……………………… organisations whose life, works or activities have been significant within the history of the nation, Province, region or community. ……… c. It has significance relating to the history of slavery ……………………… i. Importance for a direct link to the history of slavery in South Africa. X ……………………… ……………………… 2. Aesthetic Value ……………………… a. It is important in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by ……………………… a community or cultural group

i. Importance to a community for aesthetic characteristics held in high ……………………… esteem or otherwise valued by the community. ………………………

ii. Importance for its creative, design or artistic excellence, innovation ……………………… or achievement. ……………………… X iii. Importance for its contribution to the aesthetic values of the setting demonstrated by a landmark quality or having impact on important ……………………… vistas or otherwise contributing to the identified aesthetic qualities of ……………………… the cultural environs or the natural landscape within which it is ……………………… located. ……………………… iv. In the case of an historic precinct, importance for the aesthetic ……………………… character created by the individual components which collectively form a significant streetscape, townscape or cultural environment. ……………………… ……………………… ………………………

……………………… 3. Scientific Value ………………………

a. It has potential to yield information that will contribute to an ……………………… understanding of natural or ……………………… ……………………… i. Importance for information contributing to a wider understanding of natural or cultural history by virtue of its use as a research site, X See……………………… Kaplan teaching site, type locality, reference or benchmark site. Report……………………………………

…………………………………………… …………………… …………………………………………… …………………………………………… …………………………………………… …………………………………………… ii. Importance for information contributing to a wider understanding of the origin of the universe or of the development of the earth.

iii. Importance for information contributing to a wider understanding of the origin of life; the development of plant or animal species, or the biological or cultural development of hominid or human species.

iv. Importance for its potential to yield information contributing to a X wider understanding of the history of human occupation of the nation, Province, region or locality.

b. It is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period

i. Importance for its technical innovation or achievement.

4. Social Value

a. It has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons

i. Importance as a place highly valued by a community or cultural X group for reasons of social, cultural, religious, spiritual, symbolic, aesthetic or educational associations.

ii. Importance in contributing to a community’s sense of place. X

Degrees of Significance

5. Rarity:

a. It possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of natural or cultural heritage

i. Importance for rare, endangered or uncommon structures, X landscapes or phenomena.

ii. Importance in demonstrating a distinctive way of life, custom, X process, land-use, function or design no longer practiced in, or in danger of being lost from, or of exceptional interest to the nation, Province, region or locality.

6. Representivity:

a. It is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of natural or cultural places or objects

i. Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a range of landscapes or environments, the attributes of which identify it as being characteristic of its class. X ii. Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of human activities (including way of life, philosophy, custom, process, land- use, function, design or technique) in the environment of the nation, Province, region or locality.

Signature:……………………………………………… Date:………………………….